At Knack, we’re proud to partner with institutions committed to expanding academic support for their students, and Valdosta State University (VSU) is a shining example. Since launching our partnership in Fall 2024, VSU has made tutoring more accessible than ever—supporting all students in all courses. In just one semester, the impact has been remarkable, with over 1,000 student contact hours and 57% of students engaging with tutoring for the first time through Knack.
A key driver of this success is Dr. Terence Sullivan, Coordinator of Tutoring and Knack Program Administrator at VSU. His leadership, dedication, and strategic approach ensured a smooth transition to Knack, allowing the program to thrive from the start. We’re thrilled to spotlight Dr. Sullivan and the incredible work he has done to enhance student success at VSU.
Knack: Introduce yourself and tell us about your role at VSU.
Terence: I work in the Office of Student Success and Retention at Valdosta State University. I specifically oversee what’s called the Academic Support Center, which has historically offered tutoring-related services to students on campus. My current title is Coordinator of Tutoring. I oversee a supplemental instruction program which we refer to as our PAL Facilitator program and I work with Knack to provide the one-on-one, traditional tutoring services.
Knack: Share a little bit about your background.
Terence: I was born in New York City—in the Bronx to be exact. I got my undergraduate degree in History from Vassar College. After college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I got a job with College Board. I realized that I enjoyed the idea of working with students in transition to higher ed. I decided to go back to school at Teachers College, Columbia University and got my master’s degree in Student Personnel, which is basically like a higher ed admin degree. After working in admissions for a while, I moved to Valdosta for family reasons. I applied for an advisory position at VSU and over the years that role has morphed into running the tutoring program. 19 years later, I’m still here and about to retire.
Knack: What led you to working in academic support and how did you get involved with tutoring?
Terence: When I came to VSU, my initial position was more advisory. I was working with English majors and helping them design their programs with a little bit of tutoring involved. The reason I found this position interesting when I first looked at it 18 years ago, was because a lot of the admissions work that I did for many years was what I would call pre-admissions advising. The part I really enjoyed was talking with students, hearing their stories, figuring out what they were trying to achieve, and exploring what their solutions might be.
Knack: What’s your philosophy related to student success and your vision for peer tutoring in the future?
Terence: I feel that we need to meet students where they are. I think that’s a big part of tutoring—being able to connect with students in a timely manner, where they are. It’s always been our preference that students get tutored by other students because we feel that’s a better fit. I’ve always believed in a peer-to-peer system—I think that’s the way to go.
Knack: In your position, you work closely with other departments and faculty. What does that collaboration look like and how are you communicating the value of peer tutoring to others?
Terence: That was a challenge in the beginning when we established this department. There was some concern because it was different from what they were used to. We went to faculty department meetings, talked to them about peer tutoring, explained what our process was, and we continued to do that over the years. One of the things we’ve done well is establishing good relationships with the faculty by working with them to provide tutors. Now, most faculty put information about tutoring in their syllabi and some will make it a requirement for students to attend. I think they’ve come to realize the power of peer-to-peer assistance and that students helping other students is really helpful.
Knack: Is there a story that you’d like to share that has affirmed your work in higher education?
Terence: When I worked in admissions, a gentleman came to my office who wanted to go into the nursing program. The nursing program was competitive and this student didn’t have the grades. I worked with him for almost 2 years, making sure that he knew what courses to take, what grades he needed to achieve, and helping rebuild his academic profile. I worked very closely with him, we met frequently, and eventually he was admitted to the nursing program. After he graduated, he came back to me to tell me that he graduated and would be working as a nurse. He achieved his goals and it’s nice to feel like I was a small part of that. I helped him realize that he could do it and outlined the steps he needed to take to get there.
Dr. Sullivan’s dedication to student success is evident in every aspect of his work, from his hands-on approach to academic support to his commitment to fostering meaningful peer-to-peer learning experiences. His leadership has not only helped shape the tutoring landscape at VSU but has also empowered countless students to reach their academic goals. We are grateful for his partnership and proud to support the incredible work being done at VSU.
